Is your child shy around new people or situations? Do you wish they could express themselves more confidently and make friends easily?
If so, you may want to consider the power of speech and drama classes.
Speech and drama lessons are not only fun and enjoyable, but also beneficial for shy children. They can help your child develop a range of skills that can boost their confidence, communication and creativity.
In this blog post, we will explain how speech and drama can help your shy child shine. We will also share some tips on how you can support your child at home or in school.
Why Speech and Drama Lessons for Shy Children?
Speech and drama classes can help shy children overcome their shyness and become more confident speakers and performers.
Here are some of the benefits of speech and drama for shy children:
• They learn to use their voice, body language, and facial expressions to communicate effectively and creatively.
• They improve their listening, discussion and collaboration skills by working with others in a supportive environment.
• They explore their imagination, emotions and opinions through various forms of storytelling, poetry, drama and improvisation.
• They gain self-esteem, resilience and courage by performing in front of an audience and receiving constructive feedback.
• They enhance their reading, writing and comprehension skills by engaging with different texts and genres.
At Head Held High, we offer quality speech and drama classes for children from Year 1 to Year 13 in various locations across Auckland.
Our classes are tailored to suit different ages, abilities and interests. We also offer online classes for those who prefer to learn from home or live outside Auckland.
Our teachers are professionally trained actors and drama educators who are passionate about bringing out the best in every child.
How to Support Your Shy Child at Home or in School
From the tiniest tots to the tallest teens, Guided Mime offers a magical journey into the depths of their imagination. Starting on the floor with eyes closed and music playing, the speech and drama teacher narrates an adventure, allowing students to explore their imaginative landscape safely and independently.
These narrations can vary from simple and open-ended, encouraging free exploration, to detailed and slow, engaging all the senses. The beauty of guided mime is that it feels like a fun game, captivating the hearts of students as they let their creativity run wild.
The Art of Improvisation
Besides speech and drama classes, there are other ways you can help your child overcome their shyness at home or in school.
Here are some tips you can try:
• Teach them how to start conversations. Give them some simple phrases or questions they can use to introduce themselves or join in a group. For example, "Hi, I'm ___. What's your name?" or "That looks fun. Can I play with you?"
• Encourage them to pursue their interests. Find out what your child likes to do and help them join a club or activity that matches their passion or introduce them to something new. This can help them meet like-minded peers, develop their skills and express themselves.
• Acknowledge and build on their strengths. Praise your child for what they do well and help them work on their areas of improvement. For example, if your child is good at drawing, compliment them on their artwork and get them some new materials or books to inspire them.
• Be patient with your child. Don't rush or pressure your child to speak or act in a certain way. Give them time and space to warm up and feel comfortable. Listen attentively when they talk to you and show interest in what they say.
• Provide an outlet for creative self-expression. Let your child explore different ways of expressing themselves through art, music, dance or writing. This can help them release their emotions, cope with stress and discover their talents.
A Kids' Theatre Programme That's Different from Speech and Drama Classes
If you are looking for something different from speech and drama classes, you may want to consider The Tim Bray Youth Theatre Company.
This programme is super high quality, and specially designed for children from 5 - 16 years of age who want to develop their confidence, creativity, communication and champion mindset through theatre.
Theatre and speech and drama both have similar-yet-different sets of learning objectives, teaching styles and learning experiences for children
If you feel the large group style of theatre might be a good option your child, we highly recommend giving Tim Bray Youth Theatre Company a try.
Conclusion
Shyness is not a flaw or a weakness.
It is a natural part of your child's personality that if so desired can be worked with in speech and drama lessons, using the right guidance and support.
At Head Held High, we offer quality speech and drama classes for children of all ages in Auckland. We also offer online classes for those who prefer to learn from home or live outside Auckland. Contact us today to book a free trial class or find out more about our programmes.
If you are looking for something different from speech and drama classes, you may want to consider the Tim Bray Youth Theatre Programme.
We hope you find this blog post helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us through our Contact Us page. We would love to hear from you.
